Embassy Archives

Secretary Clinton Attends ‘Friends of Syrian People’ Meeting

2 April 2012

Secretary Clinton Attends ‘Friends of Syrian People’ Meeting

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Istanbul, Turkey March 31-April 1 to attend the second meeting of the "Friends of the Syrian People," along with officials from more than 80 other countries, including Poland. The meeting built upon steps that our friends, allies, and the Syrian opposition continue to take in an attempt to halt the slaughter of the Syrian people and pursue a transition to democracy in Syria.

During a press availability in Istanbul, Secretary Clinton said, "Today, the international community sent a clear and unified message that we will increase pressure on the Assad regime in Syria and assistance to the opposition. ...We called for an immediate end to the killing in Syria, and we urged the Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan to set a timetable for next steps. The world will not waiver. Assad must go. And the Syrian people must be free to choose their own path forward."